Highway marker



` Aug. 15,1939.

HIGHWAY MARKER Filed Nov. 9, 193e 2 sheets-sheet 1 TY Ogg 1 [Z Y/ ,9 umzum/@Hum uw f Q 6 lr /5 Hllf Waff/c f INVENTOR.

fig/7765 a/as ATTORNEY.

Aug.15,f1939. T L ADAS 2,169,674

HIGHWAY MARKER Filed Nov. 9, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 M194@ .vill Mm I/o/Was L fa/@5 Patented Aug. 15, 1939' HGHWAY MARKER Thomas L. Adas,Chicago, lll., assigner to Purdue Research Foundation, La Fayette, Ind.,a corporation of Indiana,

Application November 9, 1936, Serial No. 109,834

3 Claims.

The invention relates to light reflecting devices, such as are commonlyutilized as highway markers, and more particularly to devices of thistype which are mounted upon the surface of the highway as, for example,along the line between two lanes of traffic. The invention consistsmainly in the configuration and structure of the body of the marker andall other novel features illustrated and described in thisspecification.

Most markers with which applicant is familiar include a pocket forseating the reflecting lens and these pockets usually trap dirt andrender the reflector ineffective. One ofthe main objects of the presentinvention is to avoid such trapping of dirt by constructing the markerso that it will be substantially self-cleaning, that is, that wind andrain will tend to move dirt away from the reflectors rather than tocollect dirt in front of the reflectors.

An additional object is to utilize the eddy currents generated byvehicle wheels to remove dirt, etc, from the marker reflectors.v

Another object of the invention is to reduce the height of a marker ofthis type without unduly Adecreasing the efliciency of the beam of lightreflected from the marker.

Another object of the invention is to facilitate the passage of traflicand particularly of snow plows and like equipment over the marker with-.;out damage to the marker body and particularly to the markerreflectors.

These and other detailed objects of the invention are attained by thestructure described below and illustrated in the accompanying drawings,in Which- Figure 1 is a top view of the marker.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal view and section taken on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an end View of the marker looking 40J-`t0wards the righthand end of Figure 1.

- Figure 4 is a diagrammatic View illustrating the application of themarker to a highway lane demarcating line and the paths of rays of lightoriginating in Vehicle lamps and reflected by the marker.

Figure 5 is a top view of a modified structure.

Figure 6 is a side elevation and longitudinal section taken on the line6 6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is an end view of the structure shown 50 in Figures 5 and 6.

The body of the marker has what may be termed a Z-shaped plan andcomprises a central relatively narrow shank I, extending longitudinallyof the marker, and relatively wide end parts 2 and 3 projectinglaterally in opposite directions (Cl. Sii- 79) respectively from shankI. Hollow lugs 5 project from the bottom face of the end parts forreceiving lag screws (not shown) or other securing elements imbedded inthe roadway.

Preferably the top of end part 2 is curved 5 downwardly and outwardlyfrom the center of the marker, as indicated at 6 and l, and at the innerside the downwardly curved top mergesy with a vertical surface 9 formingan extension of the vertical inside face Il! of shank I.

portion II of part 2 preferably includes a thick vertical wall extendingtransversely of the axis of the marker from the outer edge of part 2 toshank I. Reflecting elements I2 are mounted in this wall and preferablyare catadioptric lenses commonly used in markers of this type. Each lensfaces away from the head lights on its side of the longitudinal axis ofthe marker or in the same direction as the movement of traic on thatside of the marker axis. In other words, they reect the light from thelamps of vehicles moving towards the marker on the side of the axis ofthe marker opposite to that in which the lenses are positioned.

Preferably a plurality oi lenses are mounted in wall I l, being spacedtransversely of the marker and being of relatively small diameter ascompared with the minimum diameter of single lenses usually provided inmarkers of this type.

It is practical to use lenses of this size and arrangement because ofthe configuration of the marker body and because of the fact that aplurality of small lenses will have the same effect upon the eye of theobserver as a single larger lens.

Part 3 is a duplicate of part 2 described above and includescorresponding elements 6', l', 8', II and I2' but part 3 extends in theopposite direction from the shank and longitudinal axis of the markerand with its wall II and reflectors I2 facing in the opposite direction.

The under side of shank I has a passage or channel I3 extending upwardlyfrom the roadway and diagonally from side to side and leading directlyfrom in front of the inner edge of wall Il of part 2 to the inner edgeof the corresponding wall of part 3. Water, dirt, gravel, etc. movingacross the roadway may continue its movement around and over the frontportions of the marker and through passage I3 without being trapped in50 the wide, deep recess provided in the marker for mounting thereectors. Similarly, currents of air moving transversely of the roadwaywill blow dirt through the passage. Also the currents of air movinglongitudinally of the marker and strik- The rear 10 l ing the lenseswill be directed in part through the passage. As passing vehicles alwaysset up strong eddy currents of air, it will be apparent that the markerwill be subjected to cleansing streams almost continuously irrespectiveof wind currents. All currents of air, irrespective of their direction,will have a tendency to move dirt from in front of the lenses.

The functioning of the marker is best illustrated in Figure 4 in whichthe longitudinal axis of the marker coincides with the line X definingthe opposite lanes of traffic. Although lenses 22 in this diagram arelocated at one side of line X, the light received thereby and reflectedtherefrom may cross the line, as indicated at R, and will strike the eyeof approaching traffic moving in the direction of the arrow A. The lightreflected back to the approaching driver is not intercepted orinterfered with by the body of the marker, because such rays pass abovethe tapered sides of the marker body.

If desired, the lens mounting walls may be inclined from a lineextending at right angles to the marker axis, or the marker as a wholemay be canted so that its axis is at an angle to the lane line X.

Although the marker as a whole is of the turtleback type, its Z-likeshape, viewed from above, makes possible the provision of largervertical surfaces or recesses for receiving the refiectors withoutincreasing the size of the marker above those of this type previously inuse. The contour also facilitates the passage of snow scrapers or otherequipment over the marker as such equipment will usually approach themarker from the outside of the road and will strike the upwardlyinclined surfaces 6 and 'l and will not impinge against the uprightsurfaces of the reector receiving recesses.

In the modified structure shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7, the device iselongated and narrowed relative to the device previously described. Thisreduces the area, transverselyy of the roadway, occupied by the markerand also provides for a longer and more gradual incline from the end ofthe device to its higher central portion. The general turtleback contouris retained. A single lens l is inserted in each transverse wall IG.Preferably the rear portion Ia of the lens is flattened at top andbottom, as indicated at F, to reduce the height of the device necessaryto properly house the lens. Such flattening of the reflecting portion ofthe lens may be made without affecting its usefulness for the presentpurpose as the full diameter of the lens is not required to affordsufficient vertical angle of reflection. In this respect, the deviceutilizes to advantage the lens structure shown in the copendingapplication of Joseph J. Imhoif, Serial N o. 733,440.

The diagonal passageway I1 forms a more acute angle with thelongitudinal axis of the body of the device than does the passageway inthe device previously described. This arrangement will result in passingvehicles creating a stronger draft through the channel as their movementwill be more nearly in line with the direction of the channel.

The device is provided with lugs I8 for insertion in the roadway and toreceive screws or bolts or other fastening means (not shown) similartothe device previously described.

The several distinctive features of the marker may be used singly and itwill be understood that the provision of a plurality of lenses, thediagonal channel, the type of reflector and the location and type ofanchoring lugs are not essential to the broader aspects of theinvention. Variations in these features of the structure may be madewithout departing from the spirit of the invention and the exclusive useof those modifications coming within the scope of the claims iscontemplated.

What is claimed is:

l. In a marker of the class described, a body with a relatively narrowhigh central portion with upright sides extending parallel with thelongitudinal axisrof the marker, there being upright walls projectingoutwardly substantially at right angles from said sides, the top face ofsaid body being inclined downwardly towards the ends of the marker andfrom the top of said central p0rtion and from the top of said walls,reflecting devices mounted in said walls and facing in oppositedirections and away from the respective downwardly inclined top faces,said body being recessed to accommodate unobstructed passage of rays oflight to said devices from above, in front and outwardly of the devices.

2. In a marker of the class described, a body having a high centralrelatively narrow shank, there being members extending laterally fromopposite ends of said shank in opposite directions and with their topsurfaces tapered downwardly and outwardly from the center of the marker,reflecting devices mounted on said members and facing in oppositedirections and being positioned in transverse pla-nes spaced apartlongitudinally of the marker, said shank being undercut from itsroad-engaging surface upwardly and transversely from side to side toprovide a passage for air, water, dirt, etc. leading from in front ofeach of said reflecting devices.

3. In a marker of the class described, a turtleback body with L-shapedrecesses at opposite sides, each recess being formed by upright wallsextending from top to bottom of said body and facing respectivelylongitudinally and transversely of the body axis, a reflecting membermounted in each of said transverse walls, there being a tunnel-likeaperture extending through the body and upwardly from the bottom of thedevice with its ends opening through said longitudinal walls at oppositesides of the body to accommodate the passage of dirt, water, etc. fromin front of either of said members through the body and away from theother of said members.

THOMAS L. ADAS.

